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As a jobseeker, you know that it's best to address a cover letter to the hiring manager. However, you may do everything you can to figure out the hiring managers name and still come up empty handed. If you don't know the hiring manager's name, how do you address the letter?

Avoid the cliched "To Whom It May Concern." This completely generic phrase makes it seem like you didn't even try to figure out who the reader is. For the same reason, you should avoid "Dear Sir or Madam."

Instead of using a generic term, you can make it a little more personal to the job you want to get. Even if you can't find the name of the hiring manager, you may find other names associated with the position. You could address the letter to the head of the department for the position you want to get.

If you don't even know this person's name, you can use the specific title of a position. You can either use the department head's title or the title for the head of human resources. Either way, using a position title shows you have a specific audience in mind rather than some general person in a company.

If you don’t know the hiring manager’s name, you should address a cover letter in an alternative way. Do not use “To Whom It May Concern.” This opening is outdated and stuffy. Instead, you could use the company’s name. For example, if you want to apply for a job at FedEx, you might address your cover letter, “Dear FedEx Team.” You can also use “Dear Hiring Manager.”

Try your best to locate the name of the hiring manager using LinkedIn. If you come up dry, check the company’s official website to see if a directory of employees is available on the site. You could very well find the name of the hiring manager going either of these routes. If you find the name of the hiring manager, address with either Mr. or Ms. So for example if the hiring manager’s name is Brian Jones, you’d address the cover letter as “Dear Mr. Jones.”

Many people are afraid of using “Dear Hiring Manager” as the opening to a cover letter. “Dear Hiring Manager” is always acceptable if you can’t locate the specific name of the hiring manager!